Actress Taraji P. Henson Speaks Out About Gender and Racial Pay Gap in Entertainment Industry
Actress Taraji P. Henson recently expressed her frustrations regarding the persistent gender and racial pay gap in the entertainment industry while promoting her upcoming film, "The Color Purple."
In a heartfelt interview on SiriusXM with Gayle King, co-host of "CBS Mornings," Henson, accompanied by co-star Danielle Brooks and director Blitz Bazawule, addressed rumors of her potential departure from acting. With visible emotion, she attributed this sentiment to the financial inequity she has encountered throughout her career.
"I'm simply exhausted from working so hard, giving my all, and receiving only a fraction of what I deserve," Henson stated. "I'm tired of hearing my fellow actresses echo the same sentiment time and time again. It becomes exhausting. People say, 'You work so much,' but I have to. The numbers just don't add up. And when you work extensively, you have a team supporting you. There are significant expenses associated with our work, and our entire team deserves fair compensation."
"It seems every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it's time to renegotiate, I'm at the bottom again, like I never did what I just did, and I'm tired," Henson said.
Bazawule commented on the fight to cast Henson, Brooks and Fantasia Barrino-Taylor in the film.
"Especially for Black women, and I'm going to be very specific — it's like you were never here," the director said. "And the fact that every single one of you had to audition for this role — roles that were second nature to you. Roles that no one should even question the minute the name comes up. The question is, 'How much do you have?'"
Henson's experience echoes a broader issue, as the National Women's Law Center analyzed last year, finding that women of color particularly face significant pay disparities.
It's not the first time the actress has spoken out on this topic, revealing that she only made $150,000 for her Academy Award-nominated role in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in a 2019 Variety interview.
Industry peers like Robin Thede and Gabrielle Union jumped to Henson's support on social media.
"Taraji is telling the absolute TRUTH. 70-80% of GROSS income is gone off top for taxes & commissions (agents, managers, lawyers)," Thede posted as part of a longer thread on the subject.
"Not a damn lie told. Not. A. Damn. Lie. We go TO BAT for the next generation and hell even our own generation and above. We don't hesitate to be the change that we all need to see AND it takes a toll on your mind, health, soul, and career if we're keepn it 100," wrote as well.
